Senate military committee adopts substitute for bill on concurrent juvenile jurisdiction at military sites

The Senate Military Committee voted to adopt a committee substitute for House Bill 4364, a measure that would authorize the establishment of concurrent juvenile jurisdiction with federal authorities over certain land acquired by the federal government for military purposes.

Committee counsel summarized the bill’s changes, saying the measure “provides for the establishment of concurrent jurisdiction with the federal government over certain land in the state that is acquired by the federal government for military purposes,” and directs the governor to accept written requests from federal officials that define the land and whether the request concerns juvenile delinquency or status offenses.

The substitute also clarifies that state and local agencies may enter agreements with relevant federal agencies to define responsibilities related to concurrent jurisdiction, and it amends circuit-court jurisdiction provisions to permit concurrent juvenile proceedings where a federal district court waives exclusive jurisdiction. Counsel noted the committee substitute removes language from the House version that would have eliminated juvenile offenders’ entitlement to bail and to effective representation by counsel.

Junior senator from the fifth moved the strike-and-insert committee substitute and later moved that the engrossed substitute be reported to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass as amended; the committee adopted the amendment and approved reporting the bill, with a second reference to the Judiciary Committee.

The committee did not hold an extended debate; votes were taken by voice. The bill will now proceed to the full Senate and then to the Judiciary Committee for further consideration.